Basha’s escort problem

London: Controversy broke out in the Indian Paralympic team on Sunday with an athlete alleging lack of escorts to look after them even as the officials sought to make light of it.

Powerflifter Farman Basha said that he was not provided with an escort and that has affected his performance in the London Paralympic Games.

“I do not have an escort here and even my coach was not allowed to stay with me. I have been in London since August 11 and our federation representatives promised that all arrangements will be made but nothing has been taken care of,” said Basha, who is competing in the men’s 48kg PO classification powerlifting event.

“My escort was supposed to take me to the dining area, which is half a kilometre away, but he was not available. Only one escort is here for all of us. It is very difficult for us to move around in wheelchairs.

“I was confident of a medal but now all my training has gone in vain,” he added.

A Paralympic Committee of India official, however, said that there were enough escorts and that the problem arose as there was no provision of one escort per athlete.

“We cannot have an escort for every athlete... We have 10 athletes and only six people have been sanctioned to stay inside the Village.” (PTI)